Indaba Yokuphila

UJehova Uyasikhathalela Njalo

IXOXWA NGU-ENELESI MZANGA

Kwakungu-1972. Izinsizwa eziyishumi, ezingamalungu e-Malawi Youth League, zangena ngendlov’ iyangena endlini yethu, zangigxavula, zase zingihudulela ensimini yomoba eyayiseduze. Lapho, zangibhaxabula zangishiya kusele umndondo.

Baningi oFakazi BakaJehova abahlaselwa ngonya kanjena eMalawi. Babeshushiselwani? Yini eyabasiza ukuba bakhuthazele? Ngicela ungivumele ngikuxoxele indaba yomkhaya wami.

NGAZALWA ngo-December 31, 1921, emkhayeni okholwayo. Ubaba wayengumfundisi we-Church of Central African Presbyterian. Ngakhulela eNkhoma, idolobha elincane eliseduze kwaseLilongwe, inhlokodolobha yaseMalawi. Lapho ngineminyaka engu-15 ubudala, ngashada no-Emmas Mzanga.

Ngelinye ilanga savakashelwa umngane kababa, naye owayengumfundisi. Wayeqaphele ukuthi omakhelwane bethu bangoFakazi BakaJehova ngakho wasixwayisa ukuba singazihlanganisi nabo. Wasitshela ukuthi oFakazi banamademoni nokuthi uma singaqaphile, nathi sasingangenwa amademoni. Leso sixwayiso sasethusa kakhulu kangangokuthi sathuthela kwenye indawo, lapho u-Emmas athola khona umsebenzi wokuthengisa esitolo. Kodwa ngokushesha sathola ukuthi nalapha umuzi wethu wawuseduze koFakazi BakaJehova!

Nokho, kungakabiphi, ukuthanda kuka-Emmas iBhayibheli ngokujulile kwamshukumisela ukuba akhulume nomunye walabo Fakazi. Ngemva kokuthola izimpendulo ezigculisayo zemibuzo yakhe eminingi, u-Emmas wavuma ukufunda iBhayibheli nalo Fakazi. Ekuqaleni isifundo seBhayibheli sasiqhutshelwa esitolo lapho ayesebenza khona, kodwa kamuva sabe sesiqhutshelwa emzini wethu masonto onke. Njalo lapho oFakazi BakaJehova befika, ngangiphuma endlini ngoba ngangibesaba. Noma kunjalo, u-Emmas waqhubeka efunda iBhayibheli. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezingaba yisithupha eqalile, wabhapathizwa, ngo-April 1951. Nokho, akazange ayithi vu kimi leyo ngoba wayesaba ukuthi lezi zindaba zazizobhidliza umshado wethu.

Amasonto Anzima

Nokho, ngelinye ilanga umngane wami u-Ellen Kadzalero wangitshela ukuthi umyeni wami usenguFakazi kaJehova obhapathiziwe. Ngathukuthela ngagan’ unwabu! Kusukela ngalelo langa, angibange ngisamkhulumisa noma ngimlungiselele ukudla. Ngayeka nokuyokukha amanzi kanye nokumfudumezela amanzi okugeza—okuwumsebenzi owenziwa unkosikazi ngokwesiko lethu.

Ngemva kokubekezelela le mpatho amasonto amathathu, u-Emmas wangicela ngomusa ukuba ngihlale phansi sixoxe, wabe esengitshela ukuthi kungani enqume ukuba nguFakazi. Wafunda futhi wachaza imiBhalo embalwa, njengeyoku-1 Korinte 9:16. Ngathinteka kakhulu futhi ngaba nomuzwa wokuthi nami kudingeka ngishumayele izindaba ezinhle. Ngakho nganquma ukuqala ukufunda iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova. Ngalo kanye lelo langa kusihlwa ngalungiselela umyeni wami onothando ukudla okwehla esiphundu, okwamjabulisa kakhulu.

Ukutshela Umkhaya Nabangane Iqiniso

Lapho abazali bethu bezwa ukuthi sesizihlanganise noFakazi BakaJehova, basiphikisa kanzima. Umkhaya wakithi wasibhalela incwadi usitshela ukuthi singaphinde silubhade ekhaya. Indlela abenza ngayo yasidabukisa kakhulu, kodwa sathembela esithembisweni sikaJesu sokuthi sasiyoba nabafowethu nodadewethu nomama nobaba abaningi abangokomoya.—Mathewu 19:29.

Ngathuthuka ngokushesha ekufundeni iBhayibheli ngabhapathizwa ngo-August 1951, ngemva nje kwezinyanga ezintathu nengxenye umyeni wami ebhapathiziwe. Ngazizwa ngiphoqelekile ukutshela umngane wami u-Ellen iqiniso. Ngokujabulisayo, wavuma ukufunda nami iBhayibheli. Ngo-May 1952, u-Ellen wabhapathizwa waba udadewethu ongokomoya, okwabuqinisa kakhulu ubungane bethu. Nanamuhla, sisengabangane abakhulu.

Ngo-1954, u-Emmas wamiswa ukuba abe umbonisi wesifunda, ahambele amabandla. Ngaleso sikhathi, sase sinezingane eziyisithupha. Ngalezo zinsuku, umbonisi ojikelezayo onomkhaya wayehambela ibandla isonto elilodwa kuthi ngelilandelayo abe sekhaya nomkakhe nezingane. Nokho, ngesikhathi u-Emmas ehambela amabandla, wayeqikelela njalo ukuba ngiqhube isifundo seBhayibheli somkhaya. Sazama ukwenza ukuba izingane zikujabulele ukufunda. Futhi sasikhuluma ngokuqiniseka okusuka enhliziyweni ngothando lwethu ngoJehova nangeqiniso eliseZwini lakhe, futhi umsebenzi wokushumayela sasiwenza njengomkhaya. Lesi simiso esingokomoya sokufundisa saluqinisa ukholo lwezingane zethu futhi sazilungiselela ushushiso esasesizobhekana nalo.

Ukushushiswa Kwenkolo Kuyaqala

Ngo-1964, izwe laseMalawi lathola uzibuse. Lapho izikhulu zeqembu elibusayo zizwa ukuthi asithathi hlangothi kwezombusazwe, zazama ukusiphoqelela ukuba sithenge amakhadi okuba amalungu.a Ngenxa yokuthi mina no-Emmas senqaba ukwenza kanjalo, amalungu e-Youth League acekela phansi insimu yethu yommbila—okuyikona kudla esasizokudla ngonyaka olandelayo. Ngesikhathi amalungu e-Youth League egenca ummbila, ayecula ethi: “Bonke abenqaba ukuthenga ikhadi likaKamuzu [likaMongameli uBanda], ummbila wabo uzodliwa umuhlwa futhi bazowukhalela.” Naphezu kwalokhu kulahlekelwa ukudla, asizange siphelelwe yithemba. Sezwa ukuthi uJehova uyasikhathalela. Ngothando wasiqinisa.—Filipi 4:12, 13.

Ngelinye ilanga ebusuku impela, ngo-August 1964, nganginezingane nje kuphela ekhaya. Sasilele, kodwa ngavuswa umsindo wokuhlabelela owawuzwakala kude. KwakuyiGulewamkulu, inhlangano eyesatshwayo yomshoshaphansi yabadansi besizwe ababehlasela abantu bese bezenza imimoya yokhokho abangasekho. I-Youth League yayithumele iGulewamkulu ukuba izosihlasela. Ngavusa izingane ngokushesha, sabalekela ehlathini abahlaseli bengakafiki emzini wethu.

Sisendaweni esasicashe kuyo, sabona ukukhanya okukhulu. IGulewamkulu yayisithungele umuzi wethu ofulelwe ngotshani. Washa wangqongqa, kanye nezimpahla zethu. Lapho abahlaseli sebehamba emzini wethu owawulokoza, sabezwa bethi, “Simbasele imbuthuma yomlilo lo Fakazi azoyotha.” Asive sambonga uJehova ngokuthi sasiphunyukile! Kuyiqiniso ukuthi bacekela phansi yonke impahla yethu, kodwa abazange bakuqede ukuzimisela kwethu ukuthembela kuJehova kunakubantu.—IHubo 118:8.

Sezwa ukuthi iGulewamkulu yayenze lesi senzo esibi nakweminye imikhaya emihlanu yoFakazi BakaJehova endaweni yakithi. Yeka ukuthi sajabula futhi sabonga kanjani lapho abafowethu abasemabandleni angomakhelwane bezosisiza! Bayakha kabusha imizi yethu basinikeza nokudla amasonto ambalwa.

Ushushiso Luyaqina

Ngo-September 1967, umkhankaso wokuqoqa bonke oFakazi BakaJehova wasakazekela ezweni lonke. Ukuze zisithole, izinsizwa ezingenaluzwela futhi ezinonya—amalungu e-Youth League nawe-Malawi Young Pioneers, ayehlome ngocelemba—zazingena umuzi nomuzi zifuna oFakazi. Lapho ebathola, la madoda ayebathengisela amakhadi eqembu lezombusazwe.

Lapho efika emzini wethu, asibuza ukuthi sinalo yini ikhadi leqembu. Ngathi: “Cha, angizange ngilithenge. Angeke ngilithenge manje, futhi ngeke ngilithenge nasesikhathini esizayo.” Abe esegxavula mina nomyeni wami asiyisa esiteshini samaphoyisa sendawo, awangasinika nathuba lokuthatha noma yini. Lapho izingane zethu ezincane zibuya esikoleni, zathola singekho, futhi zakhathazeka kakhulu. Ngenhlanhla, indodana yethu endala, uDaniel, yafika ekhaya sisanda kuthathwa futhi umakhelwane wayitshela okwakwenzekile. Ngokushesha, yathatha izingane zakwabo ezincane banikela esiteshini samaphoyisa. Bafika kahle lapho nje iphoyisa lisasilayisha elolini lisiyisa eLilongwe. Izingane zahamba kanye nathi.

ELilongwe kwaqulwa icala mbumbulu ekomkhulu lamaphoyisa. Izikhulu zasibuza zathi, “Nisazoqhubeka nokuba oFakazi BakaJehova?” Saphendula sathi, “Yebo!” nakuba le mpendulo yayisho ukugwetshwa iminyaka engu-7 ejele. Labo ababebhekwa “njengabaholi” benhlangano, babegwetshwa iminyaka engu-14.

Ngemva kokuchitha ubusuku bonke singazange sidle futhi siphumule, iphoyisa lasisa eJele LaseMaula. Lapho, izitokisi zazigcwele phama kangangokuthi sasingakwazi ngisho nokuthola indawo yokulala phansi! Esitokisini ngasinye esigcwele phama, indlu yangasese kwakuyibhakede elilodwa. Ukudla esasikuthola kwakukuncane futhi kuphekwe kabi. Ngemva kwamasonto amabili, izikhulu zejele zabona ukuthi singabantu abanokuthula zase zisivumela ukuba sisebenzise igceke lasejele lokuzivocavoca. Njengoba sasibaningi kangaka ndawonye, nsuku zonke sasithola amathuba okukhuthazana nawokunikeza ubufakazi obuhle kwezinye iziboshwa. Ngemva kokudonsa isigwebo sezinyanga ezintathu ejele, samangala lapho sidedelwa ngenxa yokuthi amanye amazwe ayecindezela uhulumeni waseMalawi.

Izikhulu zamaphoyisa zasicela ukuba sibuyele emakhaya, kodwa futhi zasitshela ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bavinjelwe eMalawi. Lokhu kuvinjelwa kwaqala ngo-October 20, 1967, kwaze kwaba ngu-August 12, 1993—cishe iminyaka engu-26. Leyo kwakuyiminyaka enzima, nokho ngosizo lukaJehova sakwazi ukuma siqinile singathathi hlangothi.

Ukuzingelwa Njengezinyamazane

Ngo-October 1972, umyalo kahulumeni waqubula igagasi elisha loshushiso olunobudlova. Lo myalo wawuthi bonke oFakazi BakaJehova kumelwe baxoshwe emisebenzini futhi uthi bonke oFakazi abahlala emaphandleni kumelwe bakhishwe emizini yabo. OFakazi babezingelwa njengezinyamazane.

Ngaleso sikhathi, kwafika insizwa engumKristu emzini wethu izotshela u-Emmas umlayezo ophuthumayo, yathi: ‘I-Youth League iceba ukukunquma ikhanda, ilixhome esigxotsheni bese ilisa emakhosini endawo.’ U-Emmas washay’ utshani, kodwa ngaphambi kwalokho wenza amalungiselelo okuba simlandele ngokushesha. Ngaphandle kokupholisa amaseko, ngahambisa izingane. Kwathi lapho nje sengizohamba, kwaqhamuka amalungu e-Youth League efuna u-Emmas. Angena ngendlov’ iyangena endlini yethu kodwa athola ukuthi u-Emmas wayeseshaye wachitha. Ethukuthele, la madoda angihudulela ensimini yomoba eseduze, lapho angikhahlela khona angibhaxabula ngomoba. Angishiya kusele umndondo. Lapho sengiphapheme, ngagaqa ngaphindela ekhaya.

Ngalobo busuku, sekumnyama, u-Emmas wabeka ukuphila kwakhe engozini ngokubuyela ekhaya ezongibheka. Lapho engithola ngibhaxabulwe kanzima, u-Emmas nomngane wakhe owayenemoto bangitatamisa bangifaka emotweni. Sabe sesiya emzini womunye umzalwane eLilongwe, lapho ngalulamela khona kancane kancane futhi u-Emmas wabe eseqala ukwenza amalungiselelo okweqa kuleli zwe.

Ababaleki Abangenandawo Abangaya Kuyo

Indodakazi yethu uDinesi nomyeni wayo babeneloli elingamathani amahlanu. Baqasha umshayeli owake waba yilungu le-Malawi Young Pioneers kodwa owayesezwelana nesimo sethu. Wasiza thina nabanye oFakazi ngokuzithandela. Izikhathi eziningana kusihlwa lo mshayeli wayethatha oFakazi ezindaweni zokucasha ezazihleliwe. Wayegqoka inyufomu yakhe ye-Malawi Young Pioneers abese eshayela leli loli elilayishile adlule ezindaweni eziningana okwakuvimbe kuzo amaphoyisa. Kuningi akubeka engozini ukuze asize oFakazi abaningi ukuba beqe umngcele baye eZambia.

Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa, iziphathimandla zaseZambia zasiphindisela emuva eMalawi, nokho, sasingenakukwazi ukubuyela endaweni yakithi. Zonke izinto zethu ezazisele zase zintshontshiwe. Ngisho nothayela esasifulele ngabo base beqaqiwe. Singasenandawo ephephile esasingaya kuyo, sabalekela eMozambique sahlala ekamu lababaleki eMlangeni iminyaka emibili nengxenye. Nokho, ngo-June 1975, uhulumeni omusha waseMozambique walivala leli kamu wasiphoqelela ukuba siphindele eMalawi, lapho abantu bakaJehova babesavinjelwe khona. Saphoqeleka ukuba sibalekele eZambia okwesibili. Lapho, saya ekamu lababaleki eChigumukire.

Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbili uhide lwamabhasi namaloli empi lwama eduze komgwaqo omkhulu, futhi amasosha amaningi aseZambia ayehlome eyizingovolo athelekela ikamu. Asitshela ukuthi sakhelwe izindlu ezinhle nokuthi azosisiza ngezinto zokuhamba siye lapho. Sasazi ukuthi lokhu kwakungelona iqiniso. Amasosha aqala ukududulela abantu emalolini nasemabhasini, futhi saqala ukuba netwetwe. Amasosha adubula emoyeni ngezibhamu zawo ezingontuluntulu, izinkulungwane zabafowethu nodadewethu zahlakazeka ngenxa yokwesaba.

Kuleso siyaluyalu, u-Emmas wawa wanyatheleka ngephutha, kodwa omunye umzalwane wamsiza wavuka. Sasicabanga ukuthi lokhu kwakuwukuqala kosizi olukhulu. Bonke ababaleki baphindela eMalawi. SiseseZambia, safika emfuleni, futhi abazalwane bakha imigqa eminingana bebambene ngezandla ukuze basize wonke umuntu awele ngokuphepha. Nokho, ngaphesheya komfula, saqoqwa amasosha aseZambia asiphindisela eMalawi ngenkani.

SesiseMalawi futhi, sasingazi ukuthi sishonephi. Sezwa ukuthi emihlanganweni yezombusazwe nasemaphephandabeni, abantu babelokhu bexwayiswa ukuba baqaphele “ubuso obusha” ababubona ezindaweni zangakubo, besho oFakazi BakaJehova. Ngakho sakhetha ukuya enhlokodolobha, lapho sasingeke siqapheleke kalula njengasemaphandleni. Sakwazi ukuqasha indlu encane, futhi u-Emmas waphinde waqhubeka nokuba umbonisi ojikelezayo, ehambela amabandla ngomshoshaphansi.

Ukuya Emihlanganweni Yebandla

Yini eyasisiza ukuba sihlale sithembekile? Imihlangano yebandla! Emakamu ababaleki eMozambique naseZambia, sasiya ngokukhululekile emihlanganweni eyayiqhutshelwa emaHholo OMbuso afulelwe ngotshani futhi ayengeyona inkimbinkimbi. EMalawi, ukuhlangana ukuze siqhube imihlangano kwakuyingozi futhi kunzima—kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi kwakuwufanele umzamo. Ukuze singabanjwa, sasivame ukuqhuba imihlangano ebusuku ezindaweni eziqhelile. Ukuze imibuthano yethu ingaqapheleki, sasingazishayi izandla ukubonisa ukubonga isikhulumi kodwa sasivele sizihlikihle.

Abantu babebhapathizwa ebusuku. Indodana yethu u-Abiyudi yabhapathizwa esimweni esinjalo. Ngemva kwenkulumo yobhapathizo, yona nabanye ababezobhapathizwa bahanjiswa ngobusuku bayiswa endaweni eyixhaphozi lapho kwakugujwe khona umgodi ongajulile. Yilapho-ke ababhapathizwa khona.

Umuzi Wethu Omncane Uyidepho Yomshoshaphansi

Eminyakeni yakamuva uhulumeni esasivimbele, umuzi wethu oseLilongwe wawuyisiphephelo. Iposi nezincwadi ezivela ehhovisi legatsha laseZambia zazishushumbiselwa emzini wethu. Abazalwane ababethutha izincwadi ngamabhayisekili babeza emzini wethu bezothatha iposi nezincwadi ezivela eZambia bazihambise kuzo zonke izingxenye zeMalawi. Omagazini be-Nqabayokulinda ababethunyelwa babebancane ngoba babenyatheliswa ephepheni lokunyathelisa iBhayibheli. Lokhu kwenza ukuba abazalwane ababethutha izincwadi ngamabhayisekili bakwazi ukuthutha inani lomagazini eliphindwe kabili kunalelo abebengalithutha ukube umagazini ubunyatheliswa ngephepha elivamile. Laba bazalwane babehambisa ne-Nqabayokulinda encane, enezihloko ezifundwayo kuphela. Lo magazini omncane kwakulula ukuwufihla esikhwameni seyembe ngoba wawuyiphepha elilodwa nje kuphela.

Laba bazalwane babeka inkululeko nokuphila kwabo engozini lapho bethubeleza ehlathini, ngesinye isikhathi esigayegayeni sobusuku, belayishe amabhokisi ezincwadi ezingavunyelwe ayeyizitaki emabhayisekilini abo. Naphezu kwezindawo ezivinjwe amaphoyisa nezinye izingozi, babehamba amakhilomitha amaningi ezimweni ezihlukahlukene zezulu behambisela abafowabo ukudla okungokomoya. Yeka ukuthi babenesibindi kanjani labo bazalwane!

UJehova Uyabanakekela Abafelokazi

Ngo-December 1992, ehambele elinye lamabandla esifundeni, u-Emmas washaywa unhlangothi ebeka inkulumo. Ngemva kwalokho, akabange esakwazi ukukhuluma. Kamuva waphinda wamshaya okwesibili, wamshiya efe uhlangothi. Nakuba kwakunzima kuye ukubhekana nalokhu kugula, ukusekelwa ngothando yibandla lakithi kwakunciphisa ukuphelelwa kwami yithemba. Ngakwazi ukunakekela umyeni wami ekhaya waze washona ngo-November 1994, eneminyaka engu-76 ubudala. Kwase kuphele iminyaka engu-57 sishadile, futhi u-Emmas wakubona ukuvinjelwa kuqedwa. Kodwa namanje ngisakhala ngomngane wami othembekile.

Lapho sengingumfelokazi, umkhwenyana wakwami wakubeka emahlombe akhe ukuba ondle umkakhe nezingane zabo ezinhlanu kanye nami. Ngokudabukisayo, ngemva kokugula isikhashana, washona ngo-August 2000. Indodakazi yami yayisizokutholaphi ukudla kwethu nendawo yokuhlala? Ngaphinde ngabona ukuthi uJehova uyasikhathalela nokuthi ngempela “unguyise wentandane nomahluleli wabafelokazi.” (IHubo 68:5) Esebenzisa izikhonzi zakhe ezisemhlabeni, uJehova wasakhela umuzi omuhle. Kwenzeka kanjani lokho? Lapho abafowethu nodadewethu ebandleni lakithi bebona isimo sethu esidabukisayo, basakhela indlu ngamasonto amahlanu nje kuphela! Abazalwane bakwamanye amabandla abangabakhi beza bezosiza. Lwasigabha uthando nomusa owaboniswa yibo bonke labo Fakazi ngoba umuzi abasakhela wona ungcono kunemizi abaningi babo abahlala kuyo. Lolu thando olwaboniswa yibandla lwanikeza ubufakazi obuhle komakhelwane bethu. Uma ngiyolala ebusuku, ngizwa sengathi ngisePharadesi! Yebo, umuzi wethu omuhle omusha wakhiwa ngezitini nosimende, kodwa njengoba abaningi beye basho, ngempela ungumuzi owakhiwa ngothando.—Galathiya 6:10.

Ukukhathalela KukaJehova Okuqhubekayo

Nakuba ngezinye izikhathi ngiye ngacishe ngaphelelwa yithemba, uJehova ubelokhu engisekela. Izingane zami eziyisikhombisa kweziyisishiyagalolunye zisaphila, futhi manje asebalelwa ku-123 amalungu omkhaya wami. Angive ngibonga ngokuthi inani elikhulu lawo likhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka!

Namuhla, njengoba ngineminyaka engu-82 ubudala, ngichichima injabulo lapho ngibona lokho umoya kaNkulunkulu okufezile eMalawi. Eminyakeni emine nje kuphela edlule, ngiye ngabona inani lamaHholo OMbuso linyuka lisuka kwelilodwa liya kwangu-600. Futhi manje sesinehhovisi elisha legatsha eLilongwe, sijabulela nokugeleza okungaphazamiseki kokudla okungokomoya okuqinisayo. Ngempela ngicabanga ukuthi ngikubonile ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu esiku-Isaya 54:17, lapho siqinisekiswa khona ngokuthi: “Noma isiphi isikhali esiyokwakhiwa ngokumelene [nani] ngeke siphumelele.” Ngemva kokukhonza uJehova iminyaka engu-50, ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi kunoma iluphi uvivinyo esingase sibhekane nalo, uJehova uyohlala esikhathalela.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Umyeni wami, u-Emmas, wabhapathizwa ngo-April 1951

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Iqembu labazalwane abanesibindi ababethutha izincwadi ngamabhayisekili

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Umuzi owakhiwa ngothando